User's Guide

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First InterComm

™

System User Guide

A29798 Page 7

November 2007

Troubleshooting

IMPORTANT

• If the FICS appears to interfere with incident site operations,

immediately turn off every VCA unit (and ICTCS if in use) and return to

normal operating procedures.

• If ICTCS or laptop computer problems occur, the VCA100 units will

remain in their assigned Talkgroups. If the laptop or ICTCS is not

functional, and communication is needed between all responders,

cycle power to all VCA100s. This entails turning off the power to the

VCA100 and then re-powering.

Table 1. VCA100 Troubleshooting Procedures

Problem Action Comments

No communications

via First InterComm

1. Verify indicator on Power Switch is lit.

If not, verify that fuse is good

2. Verify use of designated channel on all

communication devices.

3. Verify at least two VCA100s are in the

incident area, and power has been

applied to the units at least 60 seconds.

4. Verify each VCA100 wireless antenna

has clear LOS to other wireless

antennas.

5. Verify distance between VCA100

wireless antennas is one-quarter mile or

less.

1. If the VCA100 front panel is

visible, a secondary power

indication is an amber LED

in the lower right corner of

the Ethernet connector

(Figure 7)

2. If the fuse is good, but there

is no power indication,

contact maintenance

personnel.

First InterComm™ System Component Descriptions

The First InterComm™ system consists of:

• VCA100 unit, matched to user’s existing radio network frequencies

• Vehicle-mounted Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) antenna

• Land Mobile Radio (LMR) antenna, matched to user’s existing radio network

frequencies

• Remote On/Off switch

• Incident Commander Talkgroup Control Software (optional capability)

The VCA100 Unit

The VCA100 (Figure 7) is mounted in a vehicle and has no operator controls other than

a remote power-on switch. Once initialized, VCA100 operations are transparent to the

operator. Responders need only set their radio equipment to the pre-designated

interoperability channel to monitor or speak to members of other radio networks at the